82 MODEL AVIATION
Born to Fly Jim T. Graham | [email protected]
A survival guide to outdoor RC events
Nothing compares to having a golf cart at a big outdoor event. It
saves the feet, gives you shade, and can be tons of fun!
Hats are important for outdoor events. That’s why Jim carries one
for each occasion. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
What’s an outdoor RC event without
guitars? This jam broke out spontaneously,
and smiles broke out in the same manner.
Jim has run a few different rigs, but this big
diesel Excursion is comfortable, has
enough room for everything, and can pull
his travel trailer with ease.
I AM A VETERAN of outdoor events.
For many years now, I have attended RC
shows across this great nation of ours.
Going to outdoor gatherings has allowed
me to see some of the greatest pilots in the
world fly, but my adventures usually go far
beyond that; I have seen many amazing
things during my RC show travels.
One year at the NEAT [Northeast
Electric Aircraft Technology] Fair, I was in
a flood—a real flood, in which trailers
were carried away and roads washed out. I
saw coffins floating down a torrent of
water, and the whole town was shut down.
I’ve been to events where I thought I
might drop from heat exhaustion. I have
experienced shows where the gnats have
been so thick that I inhaled so many I
didn’t have to eat. I have driven countless
miles on very little sleep and flown
halfway across the country, all in the name
of RC.
Keeping all the things to myself that I
have learned along the way is not
neighborly, so I felt obliged to share them
with you, my fellow RC traveler.
Transportation: Unless the event you are
going to attend is in your back yard, you are
going to be traveling. I prefer taking my
truck, since almost everything I need for a
show can be packed into it.
I have some handy traveling tips to help
you get there in one piece and, it is hoped,
in a good mood.
• Beef jerky: This is a staple, not only of the
road trip but also of the flying site. Who
knows where or when the next meal might
come?
I buy two or three bags of beef jerky for
the trip. I can’t remember how many times I
have realized that lunch or breakfast was
going to be put on hold while we got an
airplane ready to go or had to continue to
shoot video because a model that everyone
would want to see was up next.
A bag of beef jerky is handy and can
keep you going!
• Energy drinks: I cannot overemphasize
how important an energy drink is to any
outdoor event. Sure it’s easy to stay awake
on the drive to a show; you’re probably
excited about all the cool things you will
see. But what about the trip home?
Say you got up early to fly and went to
bed late to be a part of the night-flying or
tell stories with your friends. The drive
home can be long and dangerous, so I
enhance my level of alertness with energy
drinks. I keep them in the truck just in case!
• Gas station etiquette: So you just drank
three energy drinks and you’re wide awake.
But now you have a new problem: you have
to go to the bathroom.
Pull that rig over at the cleanest gas
station you can find and take care of
business, but remember to be cool to the
station. Buy something and give back to
those who have helped you. I usually buy
more energy drinks.
• Footwear: This should be extremely
important to you. After all, you are going to
be on your feet for days on end, and your
shoes can make or break an event. This is
also crucial at trade shows.
I suggest that you take at least two
footwear options. There is nothing worse
than tromping around in wet shoes.
While on the topic, don’t forget to take
more socks than you need. I wear combat
boots to most events, but that might not be
for everyone.
• Outdoor cooking: There is definitely a
right way and a wrong way to eat at an RC
event. No fast food! Sure, it’s easy and fast,
but you could eat that stuff at home.
We are in a field among our friends and
nature; we must barbecue everything. I’ve
tried it all, from gas grills to wood fires to
briquettes, and I think it’s all good. As long
as something is burning and it involves
beef, you’re doing it right.
Also consider your friends. There you
are, cooking savory hamburgers, and that
smoky, beefy smell is drifting across the
07sig3.QXD 5/26/09 10:25 AM Page 82
This shows many important aspects of an
outdoor RC event: chairs for relaxation,
the right frame of mind to enjoy ourselves,
and, most important, good friends. Such
an event is about the people.
Barbecuing at an outdoor event is
paramount. The author cooks brats out in
front of the pit area at the Extreme Flight
Championships.
runway. Many of those around you are
going to wish they had a hamburger too.
Bring plenty and spread the wealth.
I have gone so far as to cook bratwursts
on the runway at the XFC (Extreme Flight
Championships) and serve them to
everyone around. It was amazingly hot, but
man they were amazingly good.
Make It More Fun! The point of going to
an outdoor RC event is to have fun, so I
always ask myself, “How can I make this
more fun?” There are countless answers to
that question, but I’ll throw out the most
obvious: tiki torches.
When the sun is going down and the
day is coming to a close, what is better
than firing up some tiki torches around the
campsite? Are you unsure that big flames
are a good idea for your camping area?
That’s why they invented twinkle lights. A
string here or there will give you that
“party” vibe.
You might be thinking, “I should
probably take fireworks.” That is generally
frowned upon and reserved for only the
wildest crowds. Proceed with caution!
Getting Around on the Field: I covered
my first Joe Nall Fly-In on foot. I’m sure
this is fine for some, but when I have to
report on an event, walking can get old and
slow me down.
The next year I rented a golf cart. The
liberation I felt by just sitting in it is
something you have to experience for
yourself.
A golf cart can turn your outdoor event
into a breezy thrill ride and make you
“transportation central” for your friends.
There is nothing quite like hurtling through
the night at full speed on a golf cart.
I loved it so much that now I prowl
around in the RCGroups golf cart. It has a
lift kit, big tires, a musical horn, and can
exceed speeds of 25 mph. I currently have
my eye on a motorized cooler that reeks of
“fun.”
Musical Instruments: I know we are there
for the flying, but you can’t fly all day.
(Well, some of you can.) When you have
many people and lots of tents, you have to
have some people around jamming out on
guitars.
It should be some kind of rule that for
every 20 people, there should be one
stringed instrument. It sets the mood and
makes you feel like you’re at an outdoor
event. I take three or four guitars in case
other people want to join in the fun.
Bringing the Event Home: While you’re
having the time of your life, you might
want to share it with those unfortunate
souls who are unable to make it. That is
why the camera was invented. I keep
multiple memory cards on hand. A good 2-
gigabyte card should get you through a
whole event.
Video is even better, but it’s a pain to
get onto your computer. A camcorder with
a hard drive is the way to go. I make a
checklist, because the last thing I want to
do is forget my charger, batteries, or any
other small parts I need to record my
memories.
My Secret Weapon: I was reluctant to
address this topic. It is, how shall I say,
personal. But after discussing it with my
wife, we both feel that leaving it out could
ruin an event for someone.
Many times, after a long day at a show,
I have seen a fellow RC enthusiast waddle
over to me like a duck. There were times
when I asked myself, “Did he pull a
muscle?” I have been to enough events to
know the signs of the dreaded “monkey
butt.”
(Editor’s note: As wrong as it sounds,
this happens. Take care of yourself.)
This condition is defined as soreness,
itching, and redness, caused by the friction
of clothing against skin. You might be
wincing just reading about it, but nothing
can put a stop to the good times as fast as
that ailment.
However, I’m happy to report that I
have the solution that will keep the good
times rolling. Be sure to put some Anti
Monkey Butt powder in your medicine kit.
The last thing you want is to be at an event
and not want to walk around anymore.
The Most Important Thing: People have
said this many times, but the greatest thing
about an outdoor show is getting to hang
out with your RC friends. Sure, we
probably want to see a great pilot fly the
teeth off of an airplane or helicopter, and it
is exciting to see the newest piece of
technology on the field, but in the end, the
people keep us coming back.
Many of my closest friends are from the
RC world, and the only place I get to see
them is on the modeling airfields that are
spread across this country. Enjoy your time
on the field with your buddies.
Sometimes I step back and remind
myself of how lucky I am to be out there.
These are memories we are making.
If I have helped only one RC enthusiast
have a better time at an outdoor event, my
job here has been done. I’m sure I have left
out more than a few key ingredients to help
make a show more fun.
If you see me at an event and I seem to
be having more fun than usual, be sure to
stop me so I can make note of it. I look
forward to seeing all of you somewhere
out there on the RC road. MA
Sources:
Consumer’s guide to Energy Drinks …
www.edrinks.net/energy-drinks/drinksafety.
aspx
Barbecue and Food Safety
www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Barbecue_
Food_Safety
Healthy Eating on the Road
http://nutrition.about.com/od/foodfun/a/heal
thyeating.htm
Outdoor lightning safety:
www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm
Anti Monkey Butt Corporation
www.antimonkeybutt.com
This vehicle shouts, “I’m fun and practical!”
A motorized cooler could be the author’s
next primary RC-event vehicle.
July 2009 83
07sig3.QXD 5/26/09 10:55 AM Page 83
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 82,83
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 82,83
82 MODEL AVIATION
Born to Fly Jim T. Graham | [email protected]
A survival guide to outdoor RC events
Nothing compares to having a golf cart at a big outdoor event. It
saves the feet, gives you shade, and can be tons of fun!
Hats are important for outdoor events. That’s why Jim carries one
for each occasion. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
What’s an outdoor RC event without
guitars? This jam broke out spontaneously,
and smiles broke out in the same manner.
Jim has run a few different rigs, but this big
diesel Excursion is comfortable, has
enough room for everything, and can pull
his travel trailer with ease.
I AM A VETERAN of outdoor events.
For many years now, I have attended RC
shows across this great nation of ours.
Going to outdoor gatherings has allowed
me to see some of the greatest pilots in the
world fly, but my adventures usually go far
beyond that; I have seen many amazing
things during my RC show travels.
One year at the NEAT [Northeast
Electric Aircraft Technology] Fair, I was in
a flood—a real flood, in which trailers
were carried away and roads washed out. I
saw coffins floating down a torrent of
water, and the whole town was shut down.
I’ve been to events where I thought I
might drop from heat exhaustion. I have
experienced shows where the gnats have
been so thick that I inhaled so many I
didn’t have to eat. I have driven countless
miles on very little sleep and flown
halfway across the country, all in the name
of RC.
Keeping all the things to myself that I
have learned along the way is not
neighborly, so I felt obliged to share them
with you, my fellow RC traveler.
Transportation: Unless the event you are
going to attend is in your back yard, you are
going to be traveling. I prefer taking my
truck, since almost everything I need for a
show can be packed into it.
I have some handy traveling tips to help
you get there in one piece and, it is hoped,
in a good mood.
• Beef jerky: This is a staple, not only of the
road trip but also of the flying site. Who
knows where or when the next meal might
come?
I buy two or three bags of beef jerky for
the trip. I can’t remember how many times I
have realized that lunch or breakfast was
going to be put on hold while we got an
airplane ready to go or had to continue to
shoot video because a model that everyone
would want to see was up next.
A bag of beef jerky is handy and can
keep you going!
• Energy drinks: I cannot overemphasize
how important an energy drink is to any
outdoor event. Sure it’s easy to stay awake
on the drive to a show; you’re probably
excited about all the cool things you will
see. But what about the trip home?
Say you got up early to fly and went to
bed late to be a part of the night-flying or
tell stories with your friends. The drive
home can be long and dangerous, so I
enhance my level of alertness with energy
drinks. I keep them in the truck just in case!
• Gas station etiquette: So you just drank
three energy drinks and you’re wide awake.
But now you have a new problem: you have
to go to the bathroom.
Pull that rig over at the cleanest gas
station you can find and take care of
business, but remember to be cool to the
station. Buy something and give back to
those who have helped you. I usually buy
more energy drinks.
• Footwear: This should be extremely
important to you. After all, you are going to
be on your feet for days on end, and your
shoes can make or break an event. This is
also crucial at trade shows.
I suggest that you take at least two
footwear options. There is nothing worse
than tromping around in wet shoes.
While on the topic, don’t forget to take
more socks than you need. I wear combat
boots to most events, but that might not be
for everyone.
• Outdoor cooking: There is definitely a
right way and a wrong way to eat at an RC
event. No fast food! Sure, it’s easy and fast,
but you could eat that stuff at home.
We are in a field among our friends and
nature; we must barbecue everything. I’ve
tried it all, from gas grills to wood fires to
briquettes, and I think it’s all good. As long
as something is burning and it involves
beef, you’re doing it right.
Also consider your friends. There you
are, cooking savory hamburgers, and that
smoky, beefy smell is drifting across the
07sig3.QXD 5/26/09 10:25 AM Page 82
This shows many important aspects of an
outdoor RC event: chairs for relaxation,
the right frame of mind to enjoy ourselves,
and, most important, good friends. Such
an event is about the people.
Barbecuing at an outdoor event is
paramount. The author cooks brats out in
front of the pit area at the Extreme Flight
Championships.
runway. Many of those around you are
going to wish they had a hamburger too.
Bring plenty and spread the wealth.
I have gone so far as to cook bratwursts
on the runway at the XFC (Extreme Flight
Championships) and serve them to
everyone around. It was amazingly hot, but
man they were amazingly good.
Make It More Fun! The point of going to
an outdoor RC event is to have fun, so I
always ask myself, “How can I make this
more fun?” There are countless answers to
that question, but I’ll throw out the most
obvious: tiki torches.
When the sun is going down and the
day is coming to a close, what is better
than firing up some tiki torches around the
campsite? Are you unsure that big flames
are a good idea for your camping area?
That’s why they invented twinkle lights. A
string here or there will give you that
“party” vibe.
You might be thinking, “I should
probably take fireworks.” That is generally
frowned upon and reserved for only the
wildest crowds. Proceed with caution!
Getting Around on the Field: I covered
my first Joe Nall Fly-In on foot. I’m sure
this is fine for some, but when I have to
report on an event, walking can get old and
slow me down.
The next year I rented a golf cart. The
liberation I felt by just sitting in it is
something you have to experience for
yourself.
A golf cart can turn your outdoor event
into a breezy thrill ride and make you
“transportation central” for your friends.
There is nothing quite like hurtling through
the night at full speed on a golf cart.
I loved it so much that now I prowl
around in the RCGroups golf cart. It has a
lift kit, big tires, a musical horn, and can
exceed speeds of 25 mph. I currently have
my eye on a motorized cooler that reeks of
“fun.”
Musical Instruments: I know we are there
for the flying, but you can’t fly all day.
(Well, some of you can.) When you have
many people and lots of tents, you have to
have some people around jamming out on
guitars.
It should be some kind of rule that for
every 20 people, there should be one
stringed instrument. It sets the mood and
makes you feel like you’re at an outdoor
event. I take three or four guitars in case
other people want to join in the fun.
Bringing the Event Home: While you’re
having the time of your life, you might
want to share it with those unfortunate
souls who are unable to make it. That is
why the camera was invented. I keep
multiple memory cards on hand. A good 2-
gigabyte card should get you through a
whole event.
Video is even better, but it’s a pain to
get onto your computer. A camcorder with
a hard drive is the way to go. I make a
checklist, because the last thing I want to
do is forget my charger, batteries, or any
other small parts I need to record my
memories.
My Secret Weapon: I was reluctant to
address this topic. It is, how shall I say,
personal. But after discussing it with my
wife, we both feel that leaving it out could
ruin an event for someone.
Many times, after a long day at a show,
I have seen a fellow RC enthusiast waddle
over to me like a duck. There were times
when I asked myself, “Did he pull a
muscle?” I have been to enough events to
know the signs of the dreaded “monkey
butt.”
(Editor’s note: As wrong as it sounds,
this happens. Take care of yourself.)
This condition is defined as soreness,
itching, and redness, caused by the friction
of clothing against skin. You might be
wincing just reading about it, but nothing
can put a stop to the good times as fast as
that ailment.
However, I’m happy to report that I
have the solution that will keep the good
times rolling. Be sure to put some Anti
Monkey Butt powder in your medicine kit.
The last thing you want is to be at an event
and not want to walk around anymore.
The Most Important Thing: People have
said this many times, but the greatest thing
about an outdoor show is getting to hang
out with your RC friends. Sure, we
probably want to see a great pilot fly the
teeth off of an airplane or helicopter, and it
is exciting to see the newest piece of
technology on the field, but in the end, the
people keep us coming back.
Many of my closest friends are from the
RC world, and the only place I get to see
them is on the modeling airfields that are
spread across this country. Enjoy your time
on the field with your buddies.
Sometimes I step back and remind
myself of how lucky I am to be out there.
These are memories we are making.
If I have helped only one RC enthusiast
have a better time at an outdoor event, my
job here has been done. I’m sure I have left
out more than a few key ingredients to help
make a show more fun.
If you see me at an event and I seem to
be having more fun than usual, be sure to
stop me so I can make note of it. I look
forward to seeing all of you somewhere
out there on the RC road. MA
Sources:
Consumer’s guide to Energy Drinks …
www.edrinks.net/energy-drinks/drinksafety.
aspx
Barbecue and Food Safety
www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Barbecue_
Food_Safety
Healthy Eating on the Road
http://nutrition.about.com/od/foodfun/a/heal
thyeating.htm
Outdoor lightning safety:
www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm
Anti Monkey Butt Corporation
www.antimonkeybutt.com
This vehicle shouts, “I’m fun and practical!”
A motorized cooler could be the author’s
next primary RC-event vehicle.
July 2009 83
07sig3.QXD 5/26/09 10:55 AM Page 83